Dutch football’s new scoring sensation Anwar El Ghazi was one of two uncapped players named yesterday by the Netherlands in a preliminary squad of 28 for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.
The 20-year-old El Ghazi has scored seven goals for Ajax Amsterdam this season and had been flirting with the possibility of declaring for Morocco, where his parents hail from.
Coach Danny Blind has moved swiftly to offer him the chance of a first cap after playing for the Dutch at Under-21 level, and also named Feyenoord right-back Rick Karsdorp in the squad for the first time.
Costa sending wrong message, says Pele
The behaviour of Chelsea’s Diego Costa against Arsenal last weekend was bad for football’s image and sent the wrong message to children, Pele said.
The Brazilian was scathing about his fellow countryman, who received a three-match ban from a disciplinary commission this week after the referee failed to spot him catching Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the face.
“It is not a good message for children,” Pele told the Daily Telegraph. “He didn’t get a red card but was charged. It was dirty.
“It is not good for football. But it was one mistake.”
Louis-Dreyfus sad about crowd trouble
Marseille’s principal shareholder Margarita Louis-Dreyfus has warned that crowd trouble at the Stade Velodrome could harm the club’s future.
The Velodrome’s North and South curves will be closed in the club’s next Ligue 1 game against Anger, pending a final ruling by the French League’s disciplinary committee after crowd incidents marred last Sunday’s game against Olympique Lyon.
“I wish to express my sadness to see OM making the headlines for the wrong reasons,” Louis-Dreyfus said.
“Our project for Olympique de Marseille only makes sense if it allows those who support and love us to be proud of the club, and if it helps us maintain a good image in the world.”
Ranieri wary of defensive mistakes
Leicester City will face a tough test when they host Arsenal today and the Foxes will have to find a way of not conceding first if they are to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, manager Claudio Ranieri has said.
“We start well in every match and suddenly we make a mistake. When the opponent makes a fantastic goal, you can say well done, but not when we help them to score a goal,” he said.
“We must concentrate a little more and be careful because it’s not easy to score a goal when you go down.”
Firmino to miss Brazil qualifiers
Brazil striker Roberto Firmino has withdrawn from the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers and been replaced by 35-year old former Milan forward Ricardo Oliveira.
Firmino was substituted after landing awkwardly in Liverpool’s 3-2 League Cup penalty shoot-out win over fourth-tier Carlisle United at Anfield on Wednesday.
“Ricardo Oliveira, the top goalscorer in the Brazilian league with 17 goals, was called up by Brazil coach Dunga,” the CBF said in a statement.
“The Santos striker will take the place of Liverpool striker Firmino, who was released because of injury.”
Brazil, who have never failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, face Chile in Santiago on Oct. 8 and then return home to play Venezuela five days later.
Oliveira has six caps and last played for Brazil in 2006.
Judge freezes Neymar’s assets
A Brazilian judge has accused Barcelona striker Neymar of tax evasion and frozen 188.8 million reais ($47.6 million) of his assets.
Neymar is accused of not paying 63.3 million reais in taxes between 2011 and 2013. The judge froze three times that amount for security reasons and to cover potential interest and fines, according to a judicial order.
The action covers property and vehicles and is a preventive measure to stop the player selling assets before the case is settled. He will still have access to bank accounts and other liquid assets.
Judge Carlos Muta accused the 23-year-old of “omitting sources of income from abroad”. Barcelona Football Club was cited as the source of unreported money.
Foster’s return from injury delayed
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster’s return from a knee injury has been delayed until December, manager Tony Pulis said.
The England international had surgery in March after injuring his cruciate ligament and was expected to return next month.
“He had a little setback which pushed him back a little bit,” Pulis told reporters.
“It’ll be Christmas time I think. We’ve got to make sure we’re careful,” the manager added.
Boaz Myhill has come into the Baggies’ squad in Foster’s absence.